Greeley pedestrian run over by two cars remains in critical condition

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Niko and Shon Ferguson have been with their son at the hospital every day since he was run over Jan. 30 by two cars near 8th Avenue and 21st Street in Greeley.

“It’s a life-changing event. We’ve missed work because someone needs to be with him at all times,” she said.

Their son, Zach Ferguson of Greeley, remained in critical but stable condition Friday at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver after recently undergoing multiple operations for his injuries.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 30, emergency crews found 24-year-old Zach Ferguson, a former UNC student, laying in the southbound lanes of 8th Avenue with multiple severe head injuries and several broken bones.

He was transported to North Colorado Medical Center before he was airlifted to St. Anthony’s.

Doctors performed emergency surgery at NCMC for the liver laceration and were able to stop the bleeding, she said. Doctors also operated on his femur and ankle.

He had another operation on Tuesday, when doctors placed 11 titanium plates in his face and wired his jaw shut.

“His whole mid-face was crushed,” Niko Ferguson said. “He’s still at St. Anthony’s in the trauma (intensive care unit). He just had his ventilator discontinued this morning, and he’s breathing on his own now.”

She said the facial repair work is complex, and he will need at least one more surgery once the swelling subsides.

“He’s hanging on,” she said. “He’s young and healthy and has that in his favor.”

She said doctors don’t yet have a clear picture of how his brain will be affected going forward, or what new challenges he may face in everyday life because of his injuries.

“We don’t know what the future will hold. We do anticipate he might need more help from us when he gets back on his feet, if he’s able to,” Niko Ferguson said. “We don’t know what kind of needs or neurological deficits he will have. He might recover fully, but he was banged up pretty bad.”

According to police reports, he was reportedly crossing 8th Avenue at 21st Street when he was struck by a Toyota Corolla moving at about 30 mph.

He hit the front windshield and landed on the pavement before the second vehicle — a Dodge Neon — ran him over because the driver didn’t have time to react.

Police arrested the driver of the Corolla, Natasha Grimaldo, 21, a UNC student, on suspicion of vehicular assault and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police investigated the second vehicle’s driver, identified as Brandy Bishop, but determined she was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, the affidavit indicates.

Grimaldo was released from the Weld County Detention Center on $40,000 bond on Jan. 31, according to Pamela Johnson of the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.

Grimaldo doesn’t have an upcoming court appearance, as no charges have been filed by the district attorney’s office. However, Johnson said the office has until the end of the day Monday to file them.

“It’s sad when a senseless act like this hurts so many people,” Niko Ferguson said. “Thankfully, we have a lot of people who love us who are pulling together and praying for him.”